The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to further limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including by prohibiting the sheriff’s department from notifying ICE about release and transfer dates for undocumented immigrants in county jails. But just after the resolution passed, San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez said her office would not honor the policy. A showdown between Martinez and county leaders could now be brewing.
The policy (read here) was spearheaded by Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas and supported by Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe. Joel Anderson was absent from the vote, leaving Jim Desmond as the lone dissenter.
State law already limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, but it makes an exception for immigrants convicted of certain crimes. This “loophole,” in Vargas’ words, allows law enforcement to work with ICE when it shouldn’t. Under the new policy, ICE would need a court order to receive assistance from San Diego County.
The purpose is “to ensure local resources are focused on addressing the County's most urgent needs, while protecting families and promoting community trust,” said Vargas.
Supervisor Desmond disagrees, calling the new policy “radical.” Martinez, who identifies as a Democrat, also believes it goes too far.
“Current state law strikes the right balance between limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with immigration authorities, ensuring public safety, and building community trust,” Martinez said.
Bill Wells, Mayor of El Cajon, described the resolution as “tone deaf.” He said “coastal elites” are trying to circumvent the will of the American people and undermine the law. Wells was among a group of San Diego County mayors who mobilized against the state’s sanctuary bill in 2017.
Donald Trump’s second term begins in less than 40 days. Trump and his border czar Tom Homan have promised a sweeping deportation policy aimed at removing millions of undocumented immigrants from the country.